Original Word: שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Sh'altiy'el
Pronunciation: she-al-TEE-el
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-al-tee-ale')
KJV: Shalthiel, Shealtiel
NASB: Shealtiel
Word Origin: [from H7592 (שָׁאַל שָׁאֵל - ask) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. I have asked God
2. Shealtiel, an Israelite

Shalthiel, Shealtiel

Or Shaltiy(el {shal-tee-ale'}; from sha'al and 'el; I have asked God; Shealtiel, an Israelite -- Shalthiel, Shealtiel.

see HEBREW sha'al

see HEBREW 'el

Word Origin
from shaal and el
Definition
"I have asked of God," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Shealtiel (6).

שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל proper name, masculine (I have asked (him) of God; on accusative compare (late) Psalm 137:3); — first son of Jehoiachin and uncle of Zerubbabel according to 1 Chronicles 3:17 (compare 1 Chronicles 3:18; 1 Chronicles 3:19); but Zerubbabel's father Haggai 1:1; Haggai 2:23; Ezekiel 3:2,8; Nehemiah 12:1 (attempts at explaining in Be Kit Benz). — Σαλαθιηλ.

שַׁלְתִּיאֵל proper name, masculine (= שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל Thes Buhl); — father of Zerubbabel Haggai 1:12,14; Haggai 2:2; Σαλαθιηλ.

Biblical Occurrences and Context

1 Chronicles 3:17 places Shealtiel among the first generation born in exile: “The descendants of Jeconiah the captive: Shealtiel his son”. His name then reappears eight times as the father of Zerubbabel—Ezra 3:2, 3:8; Nehemiah 12:1; Haggai 1:1, 1:12, 1:14, 2:2, 2:23. Each reference anchors Zerubbabel’s leadership in David’s royal line and underscores the continuity of God’s covenant purposes despite the Babylonian captivity.

Historical Setting

Shealtiel lived during the exile in Babylon (circa early sixth century B.C.). Although personally he never ruled in Jerusalem, his birth kept the Davidic dynasty alive among the deportees (compare 2 Kings 24:10-16). Through his son Zerubbabel, the family returned to Judah following Cyrus’s decree (Ezra 1:1-4). Thus Shealtiel forms the crucial bridge between the dethroned kings of Judah and the restored community in the Persian period.

Family Lineage and Messianic Implications

Scripture uniformly calls Zerubbabel “son of Shealtiel,” yet 1 Chronicles 3:19 lists Zerubbabel under Pedaiah, another son of Jeconiah. A conservative harmonization recognizes ancient practices such as levirate marriage or legal adoption, allowing Zerubbabel to be Shealtiel’s legal heir while Pedaiah may have been the biological father. Either way, the legal descent through Shealtiel secures the Davidic promise. Both Matthew 1:12 and Luke 3:27 include Shealtiel in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, confirming him as a vital link in the Messiah’s royal line.

Role in the Post-Exilic Community

Although Shealtiel himself is never pictured returning to Judah, his legacy shapes the restoration period. Every narrative that names him (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai) does so to establish Zerubbabel’s legitimacy to lead the returned exiles. The altar rebuilding (Ezra 3:2), the laying of the temple foundation (Ezra 3:8), and the reorganization of priestly service (Nehemiah 12:1) all proceed under “Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,” rooting post-exilic leadership in the rightful Davidic household rather than a Persian appointment alone.

Prophetic Significance

Haggai’s messages repeatedly invoke Shealtiel to highlight the divine endorsement of Zerubbabel. The climactic word promises: “On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant … and I will make you like My signet ring” (Haggai 2:23). The metaphor reverses Jeremiah 22:24-30, where Jeconiah (Zerubbabel’s grandfather) had been rejected as a signet ring. By naming Shealtiel, Haggai emphasizes a fresh start within the same line, assuring the people that God’s covenant with David still stands.

Theological Reflections

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Shealtiel’s appearance in the exile reveals that God preserved the royal seed even when the throne lay vacant.
2. Hope in Restoration: His son’s successes show that chastening in exile did not nullify divine promises.
3. Messianic Trajectory: Including Shealtiel in the New Testament genealogies confirms that the promised King would come through a line preserved, though humbled, in Babylon.

Key Lessons for Believers

• God’s purposes can survive national catastrophe; He preserves His instruments across generations.
• Legal or adoptive ties acknowledged by Scripture are sufficient for God’s redemptive plan; biological uncertainties do not hinder His sovereignty.
• The mention of Shealtiel in prophetic encouragements reminds believers that present obedience (as in Zerubbabel’s day) flows from a lineage of divine grace, not merely human initiative.

Related Scripture

Jeremiah 22:24-30; Zechariah 4:6-10; Matthew 1:12-13; Luke 3:27.

אלתיאל שְׁ֠אַלְתִּיאֵל שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֖ל שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֤ל שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֜ל שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֡ל שַׁלְתִּיאֵל֙ שאלתיאל שלתיאל ’al·tî·’êl ’altî’êl altiel šal·tî·’êl šaltî’êl šə’altî’êl šə·’al·tî·’êl shaltiEl shealtiElInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts